All natural vegetable fiber exfoliating cloth

ABSTRACT

A wash cloth is made of all natural vegetable fibers and is particularly effective for exfoliating the skin to remove dead skin cells and revitalize skin tone and sensation. The natural vegetable fibers are derived from the Malvaceal family of plants. The exfoliating wash cloth may include a pocket for holding bar or liquid soap while rubbing the cloth against the skin when bathing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is based on provisional patent application Ser. No.61/001,157 filed on Oct. 31, 2007 and applicants claim the benefit tothe provisional application filing date under Title 35, U.S.C 119(e).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a wash cloth for bathing and, moreparticularly, to an exfoliating wash cloth made of natural vegetablefibers.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Exfoliation is a common cosmetic technique that involves removing thedead skin cells on the outer surface of the skin (i.e., stratum corneum)to expose fresh living skin cells. Removing dead skin cells byexfoliating results in younger, brighter looking skin, as well as betterpenetration of active ingredients in skin care products (e.g., skinmoisturizers). Exfoliating on a regular basis helps to generate new skincells at a faster rate, thereby providing a healthier glow to the skin,as well as improved skin sensation.

The process of exfoliating the skin can be done by either a mechanicaltechnique or with the use of chemical exfoliants. Mechanical exfoliantsinclude micro-bead facial scrubs, natural granular substances, such assugar or salt crystals, and abrasive clothes such as loofahs. Chemicalexfoliants contain various acids and enzymes, including salicylic acid,glycolic acid, citric acid, and fruit enzymes.

While the above described mechanical and chemical exfoliants have provento be effective in removing dead skin cells and improving skinappearance, the products containing these exfoliants can be relativelyexpensive compared to other traditional bathing products. Moreover, somepeople may be allergic to the rather exotic ingredients contained inboth mechanical and chemical exfoliant products. Further, use of mostmechanical and chemical exfoliants is limited to once or twice a week. Aperson using these exfoliants more often than recommended may beremoving too many living skin cells and may increase the chance of skinirritation and damage.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the cosmetic industry for aninexpensive, highly effective product for mechanically exfoliating theskin on a daily basis. More particularly, there remains a need for awash cloth made of all natural vegetable fibers that is particularlyeffective in exfoliating the skin to remove dead skin cells andrevitalize skin tone and skin sensation, and wherein the exfoliatingwash cloth can be used on a daily basis without causing skin irritationor skin damage. There is a further need for an exfoliating wash clothmade up of all natural vegetable fibers, and wherein the wash cloth isstructured to hold a soap product (e.g. bar soap, liquid soap or bathgel) while washing and exfoliating the skin using the wash cloth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wash cloth made of all naturalvegetable fibers. The wash cloth of the present invention isparticularly effective for exfoliating the skin to remove dead skincells and revitalize skin tone and sensation. The exfoliating wash clothmay include a pocket for holding bar or liquid soap while rubbing thecloth against the skin when bathing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of theexfoliating wash cloth of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, in partial cross-section, showing apocket of the exfoliating wash cloth holding a bar of soap; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, in partial section, showing a pocketof the exfoliating wash cloth holding liquid soap or bath gel.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The exfoliating wash cloth 10 of the present invention is made up of allnatural vegetable fibers and is particularly effective for exfoliatingthe skin to remove dead skins, thereby revitalizing skin tone and skinsensation. In a preferred embodiment, the exfoliating wash cloth 10 ismade of woven fibers produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, familyMalvaceae. The long, relatively soft vegetable fibers 12 are woven toproduce a flexible cloth 14 and includes at least a primary panel 16with a front side 17 and a back side 18. While the exfoliating washcloth 10 of the present invention may be manufactured in various sizesand shapes, the preferred shape is square or rectangular with the sideedges of the cloth ranging in length of between 4 inches and 12 inches.One preferred embodiment of the exfoliating wash cloth 10 is square inshape, measuring 8 inches by 8 inches. It is important to note that thewash cloth 10 may be made in desired size and shape and is not limitedto the dimensions disclosed herein.

The exfoliating wash cloth 10 may be structured to include a pocket 20on one side, as seen in FIGS. 1-3. The pocket 20 is formed by a panel 22of the same all natural vegetable fiber fabric overlapped on the primarypanel 16 of the wash cloth. The overlapping pocket panel 22 is stitchedor otherwise closed along three side edges, with a top edge 24 separatedfrom the primary panel 16, thereby allowing for placement of a soapproduct 30 within the pocket interior 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the soapproduct 30 placed within the pocket may be a bar of soap 32.Alternatively, the soap product 30 contained in the pocket may be liquidor bath gel 34 (e.g. beads), as shown in FIG. 3.

In use, a soap or bath gel product is applied to the exfoliating washcloth 10, such as by placing the soap or bath gel products 30 within thepocket (see FIGS. 2 and 3), or by applying the soap or bath gel productto the outer surfaces of the exfoliating wash cloth. The user's skinshould be wet, preferably after exposure to warm running water, such asin the shower for at least 1-2 minutes. Next, the exfoliating wash cloth10 containing the soap or bath gel product, is rubbed against the user'sskin, on all areas of the body being washed, using light to mediumpressure against the skin, either in a circulating motion orbi-directional motion. To avoid removing too many living skin cells, aswell as irritation of the skin, washing of any skin area should belimited to no ore than 30 seconds. Ideally, after rubbing theexfoliating wash cloth in the circular or bi-directional motion againstarea of the skin for 10-15 seconds, the user should move to another areaof skin to be exfoliated and cleansed. After scrubbing all desiredexposed skin areas of the body using the exfoliating wash cloth, thewashed skin areas should be rinsed thoroughly with warm water,preferably under a running shower. When properly cleansed andexfoliated, the skin should feel fresh and tingly. This sensationindicates the presence of new living skin cells on the outer surfaces ofthe skin and will last for several hours and possibly longer, dependingupon the user.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordancewith preferred and practical embodiments thereof, it is recognized thatdepartures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A wash cloth for exfoliating the skin comprising: a plurality of vegetable fibers derived from the Malvaceae family of plants, and said plurality of vegetable fibers woven to define a primary fabric panel having a first side and an opposite second side.
 2. The wash cloth as recited in claim 1 further comprising: a pocket on said first side of said primary panel and said pocket being structured and disposed for holding a soap product.
 3. The wash cloth as recited in claim 2 wherein said pocket comprises: a secondary fabric panel of said woven plurality of vegetable fibers, and said secondary panel being attached to said primary panel to partially surround and enclose a pocket interior, and said secondary fabric panel being partially separated from said primary fabric panel to define a pocket opening for placement of the soap product within said pocket interior.
 4. A wash cloth for exfoliating the skin comprising: a plurality of vegetable fibers derived from the Malvaceae family of plants, and said plurality of vegetable fibers woven to define a primary fabric panel having a first side and an opposite second side, and a secondary fabric panel; and said secondary fabric panel attached to said primary panel to define a pocket opening communicating with a pocket interior between said primary fabric panel and said secondary fabric panel for containing a soap product therein. 